Category: Opinion

“’DI mo ba naririnig? Tinig ng bayan na galit?” is how the Filipino version of the popular song “Do you hear the people sing?” from Les Misérables goes as the play recounts the French Revolution. The Filipino version of the song was produced in 2017, not only translating the message of strengthened democracy in the country’s political landscape. To this day, the song remains relevant, especially at times where the government is abusing their power and committing atrocities that leave the citizens bare to face the consequences.

AS a Filipino, I sometimes feel both amazed and disappointed at how fast the Philippines forgets. Every time a scandal or controversy sparks, everyone talks about it. News channels cover it non-stop, and social media explodes leading to eventual backlash. People act like it is the most important issue in the country, but in a few weeks, days, and months, it all disappears, the noise suddenly goes quiet. We all move on to the next controversy, may it be on an artist or another political issue, even if the previous one was never resolved. It makes me wonder, do we care about change, or do we just enjoy drama?

IN the field of journalism, the directive is clear: speak truth to power, expose those who remain hidden, and hold those comfortable in their seats accountable. Yet, in practice, these concepts remain an afterthought. Too often, some reporters and media practitioners “turn the other cheek”—not in the biblical context of avoiding conflict, but in a more grim sense of ignoring the injustices and choosing silence when truth begs to be told.

MANY years have passed since Senate President Vicente Sotto III proposed a bill to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 13. Once again, the same bill resurfaced in 2025. When it was first proposed, it faced a lot of backlash and criticism, but the continuing question still lies the same: Who is the real culprit?

LAST time I talked about risk, it was about choosing courage in moments that demand it—maybe that’s true. But over time, I learned that bravery is only the first chapter of the story.

WHEN you hear the word instant, do you treat the term with little value, often associating it with noodles, something microwavable—something instantly served? Or perhaps you cast it in a negative light, because nothing good ever seems to come from something done in an instant, right? So, why does the term also apply to a certain program—a stereotype or a running gag for a particular engineering degree? Baffling as it sounds, unfortunately, the label lingers.

THERE are things in life we resist, moments we fight to forget, rewrite, or avoid entirely.

FORTUNE, dream career, peace of mind, or whatever your ultimate life goal is, do you have what it takes to get them? Or rather, the real question: were you ever meant to achieve them?

THEY say that “laughter is the best medicine” — but in the Philippines, that laugh can sometimes become poison for those who are living with mental health issues, as they are ridiculed or shamed due to our “resilient culture.” While our generation has embraced the topic of mental health more openly, not all people are the same. A lot of Filipino families would think that if you decide to prioritize your emotional well-being, they would either say that you’re being too sensitive or that you’re not insane to consult any psychiatric professionals. In a country where mental health and therapy are still taboo, some resort to seeking help in artificial means, also known as AI.

“PITIK nang pitik, hindi naman ina-upload”— a remark thrown at THE BEDAN HERALD during one of our photo coverages on campus. It wasn’t the first time someone said that to the publication, and it probably won’t be the last. But here’s the truth: Photojournalism is not just “photography.” That’s the misconception.